Bag-lock.



No. 892,534. PATENTED JULY 7, 1908. R. MASTERS.

BAG LOOK.

APPLIOATION FILED MAY 2, 1907.

2 sums-sum 1.

FiqJ- 33 @a U j 4 4 ,3 K A m all'ozmu S No. 892,534. PATENTED JULY 7, 1908.

R. MASTERS.

BAG LOOK.

APPLICATION FILED M'AY 2, 1907.

2 SHBETS-SHEET 2.

magma ROSS MASTERS, OF WHITE PINE, TENNESSEE.

BAG-LOCK.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 7, 1908.

Application filed May 2, 1907. Serial No. 371,555.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, Ross MASTERS, a citizen of the United States, residing at WVhite Pine, in the county of Jefferson, State of Tennessee, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Bag-Locks; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

The present invention relates to improvements in lockingdevices for use in connection with grips or satchels, mail pouches, purses, and the like.

The invention aims primarily to provide a lock of the type including inner and outer members hinged together, with positive means whereby the push button or buttons which actuate the locking rod, carried by the outer member, may be held against movement to prevent said rod from disengagement from the keepers secured to the inner member, thus insuring against improper and accidental opening of the satchel.

WVith the above and other ends in View, the invention consists in the construction, combination, and arrangement of parts, all as hereinafter more fully described, speciiically claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which like parts are designated by corresponding reference numerals in the several views.

Of the said drawingsFigure 1 is a front view of the improved lock, showing the members thereof in open position. Fig. 2 is a detail view of the outer member of the lock, the top of the rod case being broken away. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal vertical section through the outer member of the lock. Fig. 4 is a transverse vertical section taken on the line 44 of Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is an inverted perspective view of the locking thimble.

With more particular reference to the drawings, the lock is shown as comprising an outer member 10 and an inner member 11, of the U-type, pivoted or hinged together by headed pin 12. Each member is provided with the usual flange 13, formed on its upper edge, the flanges being directed towards each other.

Mounted upon the flange of the outer member is a longitudinally extending case 14, in which a pair of rods 15 are disposed,

the said rods being disposed in alinement with each other and movable endwise towards and from each other, as hereinafter more fully described. Each rod is provided with a series of laterally-extending fingers 16, which are adapted to engage with a series of correspondingly placed keepers 17, formed on the flange of the inner member 11, the fingers projecting through slots 18 formed in the flange of the member 10. It will be apparent, therefore, that when the two members are closed together the engagement of the fingers and keepers will retain the said members in such position.

Mounted upon the case 14 and located intermediate the ends thereof is a sheath 19, in each end of which a push-button 20 is movable. The inner end of each pushbutton is formed by an upstanding flange 21, formed on the corresponding end of the adj acent rod 15; inward movement of the pushbutton will therefore cause the rods, to which they are connected, to move towards each other. Each rod is further provided at its inner end with a tongue 22, provided upon its upper face with a pair of spaced grooves 23. The tongues, above mentioned, are disposed parallel with each other with their inner faces in mutual contact; said tongues, therefore, slide across each other when the push-buttons are actuated.

To hold the push-buttons against movement, and, in consequence, prevent disengagement of the keepers and fingers by the movement of the rods 15, there is disposed within the sheath a rotatable thimble 24, whose lower edge is undercut at diametrically opposite points, as indicated by the reference numeral 25, thus forming a pair of shoulders 26, which are likewise oppositely disposed. The thimble is disposed directly above the grooves 23 in the tongues 22, and it will be therefore apparent that when the thimble is rotated so as to bring the shoulders 26 within said grooves, movement of the push-buttons and of the rods will be impossible; when, however, the tongues are in alinement with the undercut portions 25, the tongues will be free to move past each other, thus disengaging the fingers from the keepers. The thimble, therefore, serves as a locking member which, in one position, prevents movement of the rods and in the other position permits suchmovement. The annular Wall of the thimble is further provided with a series of arcuate slots 27, in one of which the free end of a spring finger 28 carried by an annular locking-tube 29, likewise disposed within the sheath and surrounding the thimble, is engaged. The provision of the locking-tube, above referred to, prevents displacement of the thimble within the sheath, 'while the spring finger 28 holds the thimble against accidental rotation.

The thimble, as shown in Fig. 4, is disposed in inverted position within the sheath and its top or upper face is provided with a series of slots 30, which form a key-hole for the operating portion of a key (not shown). In its engagement with said slots, the key is passed through an opening 31 provided in the top of the sheath 19. It will be understood, therefore, that when the members 10 and 11 are in closed position, and the shoulders 26 on the thimble are disposed within the grooves 23 in the tongues, actuation of the push-buttons will be impossible until the thimble is rotated sufiiciently to bring the openings or undercut portions 25 of the thimble into alinement with the tongues, which rotation can be effected only by means of the key, as above described.

Inthe construction shown in Fig. 3, the push-buttons are returned to their normal position by means of a pair of coiled springs 33 carried by the corresponding rods, one end of each spring bearing against the corresponding upwardly bent portion 21 of the adj acent rod, and the other end against the adjacent face of the locking tube 29. Where the invention is applied to a purse or bag, the outer member is provided with a pair of rings 34, to which the usual chain 35 is secured.

It will be apparent from the foregoing that the actuation of the push-buttons positively effects the disengagement of the fingers and keepers from each other, when the inner and outer members will be instantly forced apart from each other by the action of the usual coil-springs with which the griplis provided these springs, as stated are of t and require no specific description or illustration, it being understood that such springs are provided both in the modified, as well as in the preferred construction. It will be likewise apparent that when the push-button or buttons is held against movement, actuation of the finger-carrying rods is impossible until the locking-bolt or thimble is disengaged from the push-button, thus safeguarding the owner of the grip against unlawful or accidental opening thereof, and consequent loss of its contents. may likewise be provided, if desired, for preventing displacement of the locking thimble 24 consequent upon an upward movement thereof; to this end, the annular locking tube 2 9 may carry a series of inwardly directed e usual type- Positive me ans cars 37 which are struck therefrom, and which extend a slight distance across the upper face of the thimble.

What is claimed, is-

1. In a lock of the class described,comprising the combination with an outer mem her and an inner member hinged together, of a longitudinal case mounted upon said outer member, a pair of alining rods disposed Within said case, said rods being movable endwise to and from each other, fingers carried by each of said rods, keepers carried by said inner member, for engagement with said fingers to retain said members in closed position, a sheath mounted upon said case, a-

push-button disposed at each end of said sheath, and operatively connected with the corresponding rod, whereby said rods may be moved towards each other to release the fingers carried thereby from said keepers, said rods being notched, and a thimble rotatably disposed within said sheath, portions of the edge of said thimble being engageable in the notches when the rods are in position to lock the members, other portions of the edge of the thimble being cut away, whereby, when the thimble is turned, the rods may be moved to unlocked position.

2. In a lock of the class described, coinrising the combination with an outer memfierand an inner member hinged together, of a longitudinal case mounted upon said outer member, a pair of alining rods isposed within said case, said rods being movable endwise to and from each other, fingers carried by each of said rods, keepers carried by said inner member, for engagement with said fingers to retain said members in closed position, a sheath mounted upon said case, a

push-button disposed at each end of said sheath, and operatively connected with the corresponding rod, whereby said rods may be moved towards each other, to release the fingers carried thereby from said keepers, said rods being notched, a thimble rotatably disposed within said sheath, portions of the edge of said thimble being engageable in the notches when the rods are in position to lock the members, other portions of the edge of the thimble being cut away, whereby, when the thimble is turned, the rods may be moved to unlocked position, and means for normally holding the rods in locked position.

3. In a lock of the class described, comprising the combination with an outer memer and an inner member, hinged together, of a longitudinal case mounted u on said outer member, a pair of alining rods 5 in said case, said rods being movable endwise to and from each other, fingers carried by isposed witheach of said rods, keepers carried by said intion, a sheath mounted upon said case, a

push-button disposed at each end of the said sheath, and operatively connected with the cones ending rod, whereby said rods may be movec towards each other to release the fingers carried thereby from said keepers, said rods being notched, a thimble disposed within said sheath, portions of the edge of said thimble being engageable in the notches when the rods are in position to lock the members, other portions of the edge of the thimble being cut away, whereby, when the thimble is turned, the rods may be moved to unlocked position, and springs for normally holding the rods in locked position.

4. In a lock of the class described, comrising the combination, with an outer memlier and an inner member hinged together, of a longitudinal case mounted upon said outer member, a pair of alining rods disposed within said case, said rods being movable to and from each other, fingers carried by each of said rods, keepers carried by said inner member, for engagement with said fingers to retain said members in closed position, a sheath mounted upon said case, a push-button disposed in each end of said sheath, and opera tively connected with the corresponding rod, whereby said rods may be moved towards each other to release the lingers carried thereby from the keepers, said rods being notched, a thimble disoosed within said sheath, portions 01 the edge of said thimble being engageable in the notches when the rods are in position to lock the members, other portions of the edge of the tliiinble being cut away, whereby, when the thimble is turned, the rods may be moved to unlocked position, and springs engaged upon said rods lor normally holding said rods in locked position.

In testimony whereof, I ailix my signa ture, in presence of two witnesses.

ROSS MASTERS.

WVitnesses:

A. BAILEY, J. 'l. VEBB. 

